Written Answers Nos. 223-238
223. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to change the eligibility for family income supplement in order that persons working less than 19 hours per week can benefit from this payment, given that such a move would be of particular help to those transitioning from the one-parent family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28809/15]
View answerThe family income supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. FIS is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependants and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. There are in the region of 50,000 families in receipt of FIS, an increase of 70 per cent since 2011. The average FIS payment per family is €114 per week.
To qualify for FIS, a person must be engaged in full-time insurable employment which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight (or 19 hours per week). The applicant must also have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them or is supported by them. Furthermore, the average family income must be below a specified amount which varies according to the number of qualified children in the family.
Reforms to the one-parent family payment (OFP) which were implemented in a phased basis in July 2013, July 2014 and July 2015, have resulted in an increase in lone parents applying for FIS. Approximately 1,600 new FIS applications have already been received from lone parents who were affected by the reforms on 2 July 2015. This is evidence that lone parents whose entitlement to OFP ceased on foot of the age reforms have over the previous two years increased their working hours in order to claim FIS. Where lone parents are working less than 38 hours per fortnight they may qualify for a jobseeker's payment including the jobseeker's transitional payment if their youngest child is under 14 years of age.
The Labour Market Council has established a sub-Group to specifically examine the issue of how employers nationwide can assist transitioning OFP customers with increasing their hours of work in order to enable them to qualify for the FIS payment and, subsequently, for the newly introduced BTWFD dividend. In addition in cases where affected lone parents lose financially as a result of the reforms and are having difficulty increasing their hours, my Department will work with them to offer every possible assistance.
The previous experience of the OFP reform, together with the introduction of the BWFD and the initiative of the Labour Market Council, would indicate that lone parents will have both the incentive and the opportunity to increase their hours of work, and thus to become eligible for FIS, thereby greatly enhancing their income and living conditions.
224. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an oral hearing in relation to a refusal of mortgage support to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be facilitated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28820/15]
View answerAs outlined in previous replies to the Deputy, the most recent being PQ 19202-15, the documents required to enable a review remain outstanding. Requirements were set out to the client in letters from the Department on 16th May 2014, 6th August 2014 and 4th September 2014. This correspondence included an invitation to supply evidence of any medical circumstances that might be relevant to the claim. The client was written to again on 5th February 2015 requesting the outstanding information and indicating that if this was not received within 21 days a further review would not be possible. As nothing further was received from the client, a letter was issued on 10th March, 2015 stating that the opportunity for a review had now closed.
225. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of a carer's allowance; and the number of these who are in receipt of a general practitioner card; the additional entitlements that a carer may be able to receive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28829/15]
View answerAt the end of June 2015, carer’s allowance (CA) was in payment to 61,610 people, which included an increase for 37,429 qualified children.
If a person is getting certain social welfare (SW) payments and is also providing full-time care and attention to another person, they can keep their main SW payment and get a ½ rate CA as well.
If a person, who is providing full-time care and attention to another person, is being claimed as a qualified adult on their spouse’s, civil partner’s or cohabitant’s SW payment, they may be entitled to half-rate CA while their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant retains the increase in respect of them.
If a carer is providing care to more than one person, they may be entitled to an additional 50% of CA each week.
Two carers who are providing care on a part-time basis in an established pattern e.g. on alternate weeks, may also share a single CA payment and the annual RCG. A carer who is providing care on a part-time basis to someone who attends a residential institution, for example, every other week, may also be accommodated on the CA scheme. The carers in these scenarios must meet all the usual qualifying conditions for CA.
Recipients of CA may be entitled to a Respite Care Grant (RCG). The RCG is an annual payment made to full-time carers who satisfy certain conditions. RCG is payable automatically to carers who are in receipt of CA, Domiciliary Care Allowance or Prescribed Relative Allowance on the first Thursday in June of the relevant year. The grant is paid in advance and covers 52 weeks from the date of payment.
An additional allowance is payable when a carer is aged 66 and over and another when aged 80 or over. These are paid automatically by the Department.
An increase in CA may be payable for carers who ordinarily live on specified islands off the coast of Ireland and who are aged 66 and over.
A person on CA is entitled to a Free Travel pass in their own right and may have an entitlement to the Household Benefits package.
The matter of the number of carers who have a General Practitioner medical card is not within the remit of my Department and is a matter for the Minister of Health.
226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 181 of 30 June 2015, the reason deductions are being made in respect of an allowed payment being received by the child in question; when full arrears in respect of a guardianship payment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28831/15]
View answerThe guardian’s payment to the person concerned was payable to 2 July 2015. Due to an administrative error, the payment was inadvertently stopped from 4 June 2015. The child, in respect of whom the guardian’s payment was payable, is in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance since 15 June 2015. Guardian’s payment is not payable while the child concerned is in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance. Accordingly, the person concerned will be paid arrears of guardian’s payment amounting to €244.00 to his nominated Post Office on the 17 July 2015. This payment is in respect of the period from 4 June to 2nd July 2015, less the amount of jobseekers allowance paid to the child during the same period. The person concerned has been notified about the arrears payment.
If the child concerned returns to full-time education at a recognised school or college in, or after, September 2015, guardians payment will be re-instated to the person concerned with effect from 2nd July 2015, for the 2015/16 academic year. Arrears due, less the amount of jobseekers allowance paid to the child concerned, will be issued to the person concerned. The person concerned has been sent the relevant application form for completion if the child returns to full-time education.
227. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an appeal under the disability allowance scheme will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28832/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 10 July 2015, the Appeals Officer notes that on her letter of appeal, the person concerned indicated that she would supply additional medical evidence in support of her appeal. To date, this evidence has not been received. On receipt of this evidence, the Appeals Office will proceed with the appeal. The Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
228. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is on a reduced rate of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28848/15]
View answerThe rate of disability allowance (DA) payable to the person in question is based upon means information provided to the Department in 1998. If the circumstances of the person concerned have changed, they should contact DA section as soon as possible and set out their current circumstances so that a review may be carried out.
229. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an invalidity pension application will be finalised for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28868/15]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 21 May 2015. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 23 July 2015. Any arrears due from 21 May 2015 to 22 July 2015 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 10 July 2015.
230. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department is putting in place to assist parents struggling to meet the financial costs associated with back-to-school clothing and educational supplies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28870/15]
View answerThe back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €44.3 million for this scheme in 2015.
In general, the means tested allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 and between the ages of 18 and 22 in full-time education on or before 30 September 2015 and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid. The rate of payment is €100 in respect of children aged 4 to 11 and €200 for children over 12 years in second level education.
In recent years payments of BSCFA have been automated to a substantial number of qualified persons who are not required to apply for the payment. Over 106,000 customers have been notified of their entitlement to the allowance and payment of the allowance will be made automatically to these customers, in respect of almost 190,000 children, this week ending 17 July 2015. Payments will also issue this week to a further 5,900 families who have applied for and qualified for the scheme.
Customers who did not receive notification of an automated payment are required to complete an application form which is available in all Department offices, via SMS (text FORM BTSCFA followed by name and address to 51909), from the website www.welfare.ie or by emailing the Department at bscfa@welfare.ie.
Support in respect of educational supplies is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills.
231. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will withdraw all of the old versions of social welfare forms when the new amended ones are issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28878/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that when the new editions of the forms delivered to post offices in May 2015 become available they will be delivered to An Post for distribution to local post offices.
On receipt of the replacement forms concerned, post offices should destroy older versions so as to ensure that customers have access to the most recent edition of the forms.
The replacement editions of the forms concerned will also be made available from Intreo offices, social welfare local offices, Branch offices, Citizen Information Centres and downloadable from the Department’s website at www.welfare.ie.
232. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28880/15]
View answerThe person in question has been awarded a disability allowance payment with effect from 27 May 2015. First payment will be on 5 August 2015 and any arrears due will follow shortly.
234. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the purpose of the €10,000 bursary to employers employing those from the live register has impacted upon numbers on the live register; if so, the number of persons involved; the number of employers who have been paid this bursary to date; the total cost to the Exchequer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28963/15]
View answerI am taking the reference to a bursary as a reference to the wage subsidies to employers available under the JobsPlus initiative.
The JobsPlus incentive is designed to encourage employers and businesses to focus their recruitment efforts on those who have been out of work for long periods or on young people seeking work. JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers in the form of a monthly grant paid over two years with two levels of grant payable - €7,500 or €10,000 provided the employment is maintained. The level of payment depends on the length of time the person is unemployed. Eligibility was broadened in 2015 to include young jobseekers (under 25 year olds) unemployed for four months or more in the previous 6 months, and jobseekers transitioning from a one parent payment.
In June 2015, 3,674 employers were paid approximately €1.83 million in respect of 5,013 employees. A total of €23.3 million has been paid to employer since commencement of payments on JobsPlus in September 2013 to the end June 2015. Some €10.42 million has been paid this year to the end of June 2015. The provision of JobsPlus is €25.5 m. with the aim of supporting 6,000 employees in employment.
236. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of jobseekers, by region, who have been penalised with penalty rates for not engaging with the Pathways to Work programme; the number of penalties that have been applied, and for how long; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28967/15]
View answerIn order to qualify for a Jobseeker payment, a person must meet certain qualifying conditions, including the requirement to be available for, capable of and genuinely seeking full-time work. A range of sanctions, including disqualification, closure or disallowance of the jobseeker claim, may be imposed where a client fails to meet the stated conditions. A Jobseeker claim may be reviewed at any time in order to establish continued entitlement.
Penalty Rates are a legal provision within the Jobseeker schemes to ensure that the Department can achieve compliance with Government Activation Policy as stated in Pathways to Work. Sanctions/penalties in the form of reduced payments may be imposed by a Deciding Officer where recipients of jobseeker payments fail, without good cause, to comply with activation measures. Activation measures include the requirement to attend group or individual meetings, and/or avail of suitable education, training or development opportunities, or specified employment programmes, which are considered appropriate to a person’s circumstances.
If a person continues to fail, without good cause, to comply with activation measures, while on a penalty rate, he/she may be disqualified from receiving the personal rate of payment. The normal rate of payment may be reinstated at any time, if the jobseeker complies, as requested, with activation measures.
The total numbers of penalty rates applied, since their inception in 2011 to end June, 2015 are indicated in the table.
|
Year |
No of Penalty Rates Applied |
|
2011 |
359 |
|
2012 |
1,519 |
|
2013 |
3,395 |
|
2014 |
5,325 |
|
2015 |
3,550 |
|
TOTAL |
14,148 |
237. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who are homeowners, landlords, tenants, and separately, social housing tenants who have registered for the water conservation grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28971/15]
View answerThe water conservation grant has been introduced to support households in conserving water in the home. It is being administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
To be eligible for the grant, a person must have registered their principal, private residence with Irish Water on or before 30 June 2015. As part of the application process applicants will be asked to confirm that this dwelling was their principal, private residence on 30 June 2015. In the circumstances, the type of detail requested by the Deputy is not necessary for the administration of the grant and consequently is not available to this Department.
Irish Water is finalising total figures for the number of registered persons who may be eligible to apply for the water conservation grant. Current figures from Irish Water suggest that approximately 1.3 million people may be eligible. These people will receive letters from this Department in August/September advising them of the application process.
238. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the name of the company which was awarded the contract at tender stage to administer the water conservation grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28972/15]
View answerThe Water Conservation Grant is being administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. The administration and payment of this grant is a significant project for the Department and requires the development and implementation of ICT systems, ICT infrastructure and various customer support and communications services. The procurement of services is essential to support the Department in providing a high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory, legal and procedural framework.
Following a procurement process, a contract for the extension of payment functionality and development of a customer self-service web service for the Water Conservation Grant has been awarded to Bearing Point. It is intended that the ICT infrastructure put in place for this project will be reused for the provision of online services in the future.
A separate procurement has been held for the provision of customer support call centre services. Following evaluation of the tenders received a preferred bidder, Abtran, has been selected. It is expected that the contract for this service will be finalised shortly.
All costs in relation to the set-up and administration of the Water Conservation Grant will be recouped from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in line with existing procedures in this regard. Every effort is being made to maximise efficiencies and keep costs to the absolute minimum.
